Circuit

May 17, 2004

Adoption papers

Thanks to digital certificates, U.S. citizens who turn to Eastern European and Russian adoption agencies can do so with confidence that the child's medical records they view on the Web have not been altered.

For the past three years, Entrust Inc. officials have provided the State Department with a public-key infrastructure and digital certificates that State officials have issued to overseas adoption agencies.

Adoptive parents can feel confident that the information on the Web comes from a trusted source and has not been altered.

"That's where the comfort level really comes from," Gary Moore, chief architect for Cygnacom Solutions Inc., a subsidiary of Entrust, said at a PKI workshop last week.

Daniels on the move

It looks like politics have worn off on Mitchell Daniels Jr., the former director of the Office of Management and Budget who brought us the President's Management Agenda and other belt-tightening ideas.

He left the nation's capital to run for governor of Indiana and recently won the GOP nomination. No doubt Air Force One will be making a few campaign stops in the state during the next few months.

The best of E-Gov

Fifteen federal, state and local agencies are the winners of this year's Government Solutions Center Pioneer Awards for innovative best practices in delivering e-government services. The winners, chosen by the E-Gov Institute, will be showcased at a dinner during this year's Government Solutions Forum June 2-4.

"These are real-world solutions that build a smart government to meet the needs of the American public," said Anne Armstrong, publisher of FCW Media Group, which owns both Federal Computer Week and the E-Gov Institute. "We are proud to recognize these agencies for their achievements."

An independent panel of public- and private-sector leaders selected the winners. They are:

1-800-MEDICARE from the Department of Health and Human Services, a virtual call center for Medicare inquiries.

The Bomb and Arson Tracking System from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The Defense Medical Logistics Standard Support from the Defense Department, for automated information that enhances health care delivery.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid from the Education Department.

The Integrated Business Service Network from the U.S. Postal Service for the agency's largest customers.

The Investigative Information Management System from the Air Force Office of Special Investigations.

TruckingKS.org from the state of Kansas, a Web portal that hosts six interactive credential applications.

Keep in Touch from Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia, which provides updated information on the school system.